Added December 8th, 2011, Comments Off on Occasions In Life Where I’d Want to Ship a Car Instead of Driving

If you are going to be moving your car a long distance, you might be debating whether to drive the car there yourself or have it moved by an auto transport company. There is no one right answer, as multiple factors can determine your decision, such as the price of having the vehicle moved versus the price of driving it to the intended destination, how much wear and tear you are comfortable with your vehicle sustaining, and the relative ease or difficulty of driving the vehicle. In the following situations, I would recommend having the car shipped to the destination rather than driving it yourself.

RELOCATING TO ANOTHER STATE

If you are going to be moving to another state, you might save yourself a lot of time, hassle, and money by simply having your car shipped instead of driving it to the new home yourself. You will probably already have a lot of tasks to deal with, such as packing, dealing with moving companies, informing your friends and family of the move (or saying goodbye if you have already done that part), and more. A lot of stress can be avoided by assigning the task of moving the vehicle to a car transport company.

Besides making your life easier, entrusting the shipment of your car to a vehicle transport company can also save you quite a bit of money. If you drive the car yourself, you will have to pay for fuel costs, tolls (if applicable), and possible lodging costs (assuming that you do not make it to your destination in one day and have to sleep at a motel). You will also most likely be shortening the lifespan of your vehicle by adding excessive miles during a long trip that could have been avoided. It would make more sense to have a car transport service handle the shipment of your vehicle. There are now many car transport services available that would be happy to ship your vehicle for you. Most vehicle transport companies can have your car delivered at a much lower price than it would end up costing for you to drive it. Many of those companies will provide you with a free car shipping quote.

NEED TO MOVE A NICE VEHICLE

If you have a very nice vehicle (or even just a sort-of nice vehicle) that you need to take to another state or far-off city, you might want to consider shipping it rather than driving it a long distance just to preserve the appearance and condition of your vehicle. When driving cross-country, you will encounter a wide variety of terrains, many of them rugged. Driving through rough desert terrain is a good way to make your nice Mercedes less desirable than your neighbor’s old pickup truck. There are a variety of things that can go wrong when driving your vehicle cross-country. High speed desert winds could strip the finish right off your car, you could lose a wheel driving over unforgiving terrain, or you could get the vehicle stuck in snow. Imagine the inconvenience that would follow if your vehicle broke down in the middle of nowhere (an inconvenience if you have a cellular phone; a terrifying situation if you do not have a mobile phone or any other way to contact help). All damage to your car, from cosmetic scrapes to major engine problems, can be avoided by having a vehicle transport company ship your car across country for you.

AVOIDING AN INCONVENIENCE

One reason that many people give for why they have their cars shipped instead of driving them to a far-away location themselves is convenience. Driving your car cross-country is no joke—you have to be really prepared for the experience. Besides having to be able to navigate multiple climates and conditions, you will also have to be prepared for the driving laws and common driving practices in all the different states that you will have to pass through before you reach your destination. The driving conditions in another state will likely be much different than those in your state. People may drive more aggressively or sloppily, and the traffic rules may be much different than what you are used to. This is a problem that can be avoided by entrusting a transport company to ship your vehicle. Many senior citizens make use of transport companies for this reason—they would like to avoid the hassle of driving their vehicle cross-country over different terrains and driving conditions.

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Car Shipping Resources

Wikipedia Definition
An auto transport broker is a type of cargo broker that specializes in the shipping and transportation of vehicles. Most vehicles shipped in the U.S. are cars and trucks, but many brokers handle boats, RVs, motorcycles and other types of vehicles as well. Auto transport is classified as "specialized freight trucking" under NAICS code 484230.
Auto Transport Broker

Auto Transportation Training:
Applications from anyone interested in the ATSSA sponsored "Truck Coach" Modified Apprenticeship Program (MAP). For additional information on the apprentices for this program please contact our Education and Training committee.
ATSSA.org